Whitemud closed for almost 11 hours after fiery crash

After almost 11 hours, the Whitemud started flowing again Wednesday afternoon.

The busy freeway was closed around 4:00 a.m. after a utility truck working on lights on the 122 Street overpass was hit by a gravel truck. The gravel truck burst into flames in the collision, but the driver was able to get out safely. The driver of the utility truck, who was in the bucket at the time of the collision, also suffered only minor injuries.

“There was some observable damage to the asphalt so the speed limit is being reduced as a precaution to protect it from further damage as traffic resumes,” a city spokesman said in an e-mail. “The roadway’s performance will be monitored and repairs will be scheduled soon, with the work to be done during off-peak hours.

No charges have been laid, and police don’t believe that speed or alcohol were factors in the collision. (kb/global news)